Results 641-660 of 1,774 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I am so delighted the Taoiseach is here today and I thank him for his address. There are two or three areas I would like to highlight. One is his commitment to Sláintecare. I know of his own personal interest in doing things better and doing things differently. University Hospital Limerick is an area he has taken a personal interest in himself in terms of seeing that happen. We need...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Cards (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important issue. I was contacted by a number of people, mainly those aged over 75 and who have certain illnesses and are on medication, who are affected by the requirement to have a medical certificate in order to renew their driving licences, the cost of which is not covered under the medical card scheme. Many have to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Cards (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I know it is not her area of responsibility, but it is disappointing to hear the response from the Department of Health, on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. We are all aware that the cost of these certificates is not covered under the scheme. That is the whole point. To be given the facts of what the Act is about and what the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the news that the Garda Commissioner has included a Garda station for Castletroy in the capital programme for An Garda Síochána for 2025 to 2030. I raised this here in Commencement debates in 2018 and 2019. We were told then it was not warranted but it would be kept under review. The whole area of Castletroy, Lisnagry and Annacotty is one of the fastest growing areas in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Crime and Policing: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this all-important issue and I thank Fianna Fáil for bringing forward this Private Members' business. I welcome the fact that the budget for justice has increased by almost 20% since 2020. This is most welcome. Only this morning, I raised the fact with our own Leader that the Garda Commissioner had...

Seanad: Rights-Based Care Economy: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank Senator O'Reilly. As no other Senators are indicating, I would now like to call on the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Banking Issues: Discussion (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I apologise for not being here earlier as I was at another meeting, but I have read the opening statements. I have two or three questions I would like to put in general. We are all very aware of climate change and a lot of people are retrofitting or buying an electric car. What are the banks doing to address this whole issue? People are looking for low-interest loans because the costs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Banking Issues: Discussion (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the witnesses and apologise for leaving. I have to speak in the Seanad Chamber.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I welcome to the Gallery Irish language students at the UCD Politics and International Relations Society from Spain, Germany and India.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: As there are no other Senators indicating, I call the Minister to respond.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Child Protection (13 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Eligibility (13 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for coming to the House to address my issue. My question is for the Minister for Social Protection and relates to means testing and the ongoing review. Means testing is necessary for many payments in the social welfare system. It applies for carers, people on jobseeker's allowance and pensioners. A man came to me recently and told me that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Eligibility (13 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I understand there is a comprehensive review going on. There are many key areas. I welcome the fact that the Minister and the Department have made an awful lot of changes, especially around agricultural supports. Farmers often must have a second job to compensate. I believe those changes have been welcomed. I also acknowledge the changes around disability....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I wish to highlight the issue student nurses are facing. On 13 December 2022, the McHugh report suggested a €9 million package and recommended a €500 per year payment for student nurses in years 1 to 3. It also outlined an €80 allowance for overnight accommodation being introduced, together with an increased weekly cap of €300 for students who need accommodation...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the fact that Limerick has been included in the defective blocks scheme. I have been working with residents on this for quite a while. It was announced in the past couple of days by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. It is certainly welcome news because so many people have been affected not only in Limerick but in Clare, Donegal and Mayo. It...

Seanad: Ban on Dumping New Products Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I welcome Aodhán McCormack and his son Cian and daughter Áine from Limerick who are in the Gallery. We also have other guests in the Gallery. They are equally welcome.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the €1.4 million that was announced for St. John's hospital in Limerick last Friday, when the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, visited the hospital. It means the medical assessment unit at St. John's hospital will now operate seven days a week. This is really welcome. With that comes ten extra staff in the medical assessment unit, including a consultant, two doctors,...

Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments: Committee Work Programme (4 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming before the committee and for his opening statement. I met one of the people born the year of accession. They are all 50 now because we are 50 years in Europe. I happened to meet one of them yesterday who was absolutely thrilled and produced the coin and showed me the transcription on it. The person was thrilled to be acknowledged today by the...